I'm still recovering from yesterday's Retired teacher chapter meeting and will report on it when I fully recover. Most of the meeting was about how after 50 years, Unity is paying attention to paras with a big election coming up. The Unity machine put on a full court press on how much they care about para retirees and set up a special support unit with a hot line, patting themselves on the back after ignoring para retirees for 50 years. I wonder if that hotline goes through the outsourced Salesforce crap that UFT members calling the UFT have to face?
Former UFT Spec Ed VP Carmen Alvarez led the band yesterday. It was she who had begged at a Jan. 2023 city council hearing to allow her to keep her Medicare by offering the choice to spend almost $200 a month extra for the same Senior Plan we get for free. I confronted her at that hearing, saying, "What about para retirees who could not afford to pay and would have to stick with the MedAdv?
The best line of the day:
- UFT TRS member and Treasurer Tom Brown talking about tweaking Tier 6: At least they enjoy a death benefit.
- Arthur Goldstein calls out: NO ONE ENJOYS A DEATH BENEFIT.
Now you have an idea how the day went.
So this will focus on some para issues but first go straight to this link and sign the petition to
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
I'm ready to head down to the DA to get signatures for Ben Morgenroth in the TRS election. I can't believe how well this campaign is going - I get the mail returns. I'm just catching up on the para news from Monday's night's exec Bd meeting - I thought I heard para reps saying that our paras do so well compared to others down south and upstate NY. She didn't mention some big wins for paras in other cities that make Unity efforts look puny.
Check out Nick's Notes:
I posted on Monday morning an analysis of how Unity views total control of the para chapter as a crucial element in maintaining their over 60 year control of the UFT. Worries about the outcome of the Retiree chapter election after alienating so many members of the Medicare issue is a factor in solidifying para support.
One recent Unity tactic is to offer paras a fire sale on joining Unity plus lots of free food and drink events -
Just as the Monday eve Exec Bd meeting got started I posted this reso calling for a fair wage for paras.
A "no-brainer," as Nick Bacon said in his intro last night. Some of us had speculated on how Unity would react, from outright opposition to tabling. They came up with amending by removing the last resolve, the only portion with some teeth.
Resolved; that the UFT develop a comprehensive bargaining plan, with a clear timeline and objectives, for achieving a living wage for paraprofessionals, including equitable longevity raises, injury paid leave parity, and chapter 683 and ESY (Extended School Year) pay parity, ensuring they are compensated fairly for their crucial role in education.
Call to Action: Fix Para Pay, Now! Sign the petition.
It’s time to fight for a living wage, a fair contract, and respect for NYC paraprofessionals. - By Migda Rodriguez, Marie Wausnock and Daniel Alicea
Petition
New York City public school paraprofessionals/para-educators play an essential and invaluable role in our school communities by providing accessible, quality educational and support services to all of our schoolchildren.
And yet, New York City public schools are experiencing hundreds of para vacancies that may result in thousands of New York City school children not receiving federally mandated IEP services due to shortages of full-time, qualified paras.
The reasons for this are many. But, quite simply it’s because we’ve seen our profession no longer be respected as a life-long career by the City of New York and the Department of Education.
New City York public school paras are struggling to earn a living wage in our city and often have to work multiple jobs to survive.
According to MIT’s living wage calculator, a single person with no children needs to make at least $33 an hour to live in New York City. Entry level paras are making less than $30k a year and no more than $18.50 an hour.
Did you know that teachers make over $32k in longevity raises over their careers while paras barely make $3k in longevity raises over their entire careers?
There are also various other inequities that exist in our current contractual pay structures and para job rights.
This current path can’t continue. Being a paraprofessional must be a sustainable career, once again , and not only viewed as a “career ladder” to another profession.
We need the DOE, the Mayor and our union leadership to not only recognize and protect the important role para-educators play in our schools and in our students' lives, but we call for fairer pay, better benefits, workplace safety, job security and increased access to job training that will give our jobs, and us, the respect paras deserve.
We must support related legislation and fight for these things at the collective bargaining table.
To this end, we call on our union family to support the Resolution to Meaningfully Support New York City Paraprofessionals’ Fight for a Living Wage and Fair Contract
In the coming weeks and months, UFT paras, along with other members, will work together to organize in solidarity around a living wage, fair contract, improved benefits and working conditions, and stronger protections for all paras.
Join our member-driven movement —
UFT Paras For A Fair Contract
Migda Rodriguez is the Second Vice Chairperson of the Paraprofessional Chapter and a NYC para. Marie Wausnock is a veteran NYC para, also. Both are a part of UFT Paras for A Fair Contract. Daniel Alicea is a special education teacher and UFT delegate who believes paras are beyond essential to our school communities and classrooms.
6 comments:
The problem with giving paras raises is that many teachers will decide to move into para spots. I know if a para made $70k a year I'd swith over in a second. I make almost $130k, but it would be worth it for the reduction in stress and work.
Really? You think 70K would have no stress? Go find an apartment.
I have no mortgage and tons saved up. I would switch in a heartbeat. I know some people couldn't afford it.
You can do it for 50g today. At 70G your pension would still suck. Paras get no preps etc.
Isn't FAS calculated at your highest three years in a row? That would still give me a nice pension as it would use my teacher salary. Frankly, I'm ready to quit anyway so it would be that big of a deal. Better than early retirement.
Certainly do the math and if it works jump. But not always so easy to manage something like this.
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